Dense fog over Delhi cripples transportation

New Delhi, Dec 22: Close to 36 flights have been delayed and 3 have been cancelled as Delhi was enveloped with fog. Round about 50 trains have been delayed while 12 others have been rescheduled in the national capital. Sources say, 12 other trains have been rescheduled in the national capital.

The city recorded a maximum temperature of 15 degree celsius, which is 7 degrees below the normal-its lowest so far this winter. The met department has predicted a dense fog today, with the maximum temperature at 16 degrees Celsius and the minimum at 5 degrees.Intense cold conditions continue to prevail across the northern region. While one person has died in Uttar Pradesh, three others died of suffocation in Delhi after they lit a fire to keep their homes warm.

A view of the Rajpath on a chilly foggy morning in New Delhi

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed Chillai-Kalan, which is the 40-day harshest period of winter that began on Sunday. This has increased the chances of the first snowfall of the season in the Valley. The minimum temperature, however, rose by over -1.8 degree Celsius on Sunday, visa vie -4.4 degrees last year.

In Rajasthan, extreme cold conditions hit normal life. On Sunday, Churu experienced the coldest night with a freezing point of 0.5 degrees Celsius. Mercury again dipped by one to five degrees following northerly cold winds in most parts of the state. A thick blanket of fog disrupted transportation in several parts of the country including air, rail and road traffic.

A bird waits for its prey on the banks of dal lake on the first day of Chillai-Kalan (a 40 day harshest period of Winter), in Srinagar